Barbara York commission consortium

[BVD Press]

Dear All,

I am looking into commissioning Barbara York to compose two pieces for Tuba. Many of you already know her works, but if not one of her pieces won the Harvey Phillips Award at ITEC in Denver and several of her works have been performed by Don Harry, John Griffiths, Mike Lynch, etc. Here is a link with comments from other listers:

viewtopic.php?t=18031&highlight=barbara+york

I would like to have Barbara write three pieces total and two would be of interest to the TubeNet:

Sonata for Tuba and Piano
Suite (Sonata) for Horn Tuba and Piano
the third piece would be a Sonata for Horn and Piano

My question is in the poll above. Although I don't have exact costs yet, I am guessing for anyone interested in the consortium the cost would be about $35.00 per person. The costs would include a printed hard copy of each piece and the shipping costs.

My main objective is to get some new pieces out to our little community.

I am open to any thoughts, ideas, comments, etc.

[Tubadork]

I really like the music of Barbara York,
but, I wish we as a tuba community would shoot higher. I told my clarinet playing girlfriend (masters in performance from Michigan) about the prospect of a commission and her response was "who is Barbara York?"
I replied "my point exactly."
For us to gain the respect of the greater musical community that we all desire, we need to get composers who other people know to write for our instrument.
flame away,
Bill
p.s. count me in on this project

[Mark]

For us to gain the respect of the greater musical community that we all desire, we need to get composers who other people know to write for our instrument.
Bill

I don't disagree. I would point out that even John Williams, arguably the most well-known living composer, can turn out a stinker. Or, Samuel Jones (certainly more well known than Barbara York) can compose a great tuba concerto -- which only a handful of tubists in the world can play well.

[BVD Press]

I really like the music of Barbara York,
but, I wish we as a tuba community would shoot higher. I told my clarinet playing girlfriend (masters in performance from Michigan) about the prospect of a commission and her response was "who is Barbara York?"
I replied "my point exactly."
For us to gain the respect of the greater musical community that we all desire, we need to get composers who other people know to write for our instrument.

If we get quality music, why does it matter who it is? Everyone was unknown at some point. Maybe I am clueless, but I had never heard of Eric Ewazen during undergraduate school and that was about 10 years ago. I sure am getting old!

I wonder if the John Williams Tuba Concerto really helps us get more respect? I can't think of a more well known composer, but ask someone on the street if he wrote a piece for tuba and...

__

If you are looking for more commissions, Cimarron Music Press has a co-commission on the way with Sotto Voce. See here:

http://www.anthonyplog.com/index.php?aid=3

[Tim Olt]

Bryan,

I am with you. Put me down for $35. As for how famous she is, did anyone here know the name of Elizabeth Raum as of 15 years ago? Or how about someone like Bach? Until Mendelssohn pushed him, he was lost in obscurity. Ok, so maybe Barbara York isn't a big name now... Neither was Oystein Baadsvik as of ten years ago (no offense Mr. Baadsvik)...

Not to say that all composers and artists merit the big name, but until we take chances, no one will. You never know who will be the next Bach, Beethoven, Brahms (always love the three B's) a hundred years from now....

Just my $.02...... Feel free to flame at will......

Tim

[BVD Press]

Why can't we get John Corigliano, David Del Tredici, Gunther Schuller, Karel Husa, Joseph Schwantner, Leslie Bassett, Peter Maxwell-Davies, et al to write euphonium or tuba solos?? Talk about raising our visibility!

To put it bluntly, I am guessing most of the conversation stops at the cost of a piece for a few of the above. On the other hand, has anyone asked? IF you fork out the money I am sure they would oblige!

[ufoneum]

Bryan,

I think that this is a great idea. No matter who the composer is - it is great to see someone putting themselves out there and getting new music written for the instrument. Thanks so much for doing this.

- Pat Stuckemeyer

[djwesp]

Count this poor college kid in.

As for the John Williams being a stinker, have you heard it performed well? It is far from a stinker in my book, and I'm glad it doesn't follow the normal JW cut and paste motivic (i stole this from another one of my pieces) CRAP. Disjointed, slightly but that could be said of many things. Different strokes for different folks I guess.


Good music is good music. If the tuba community starts commissioning pieces by famous composers, but they are only doing it for the commission fee, do you think they will be producing good music? Maybe, however, I'd much rather give someone who is trying to make a BIGGER name for herself a chance to prove herself. I feel like saying that is not giving credit to York's accomplishments, but I don't know how else to say it. She has numerous compositions and isn't as obscure as some are making her sound.

York's other stuff is good, I'm sure if her heart is in it, this will be great too. "Wars and Rumors of Wars" is a decent piece- and i'll support anyone pumping out stuff that doesn't perpetuate our instruments "asleep in the deep" stereotype.

[Kevin Hendrick]

Thanks for the link to the comments -- very interesting -- count me in!

[Tubanese]

music is music, there is no good nor bad....
It is always good to hear new stuff written for the tuba

[P8822]

Ask Harvey Phillips about commissioning new music. Before he moved to Indiana, and even afterward he spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on new music for the tuba and performing recitals at Carnegie Hall.

At the first International Brass Congress (held at Indiana), Harvey not only invited the best brass performers in the world, he invited composers to hear what brass instruments are capible of doing in the hands of the best perfromers in the world.

The result was many works for tuba; some very commonly performed Wilder, Heiden, et al. and others which have fallen into obscurity.

Encourage young composers to attend your recitals and performances. You might just get them to write the next Hindemith sonata.

I would like Mr. Williams to write another piece for tuba. As composers become familiar with what sounds good, challenges the performer and has good form and structure, we will get better solo music.

Were Mozart's, Beethoven's, Hindemith's etc. early compositions as good as their mature works? Encourage Barbara to write multiple works for solo brass. That encouragement comes forn repeated performances, commission requests and tireless promotion of live music.

My vote is yes for Barbara York.

Paul Weikle

[MichaelDenney]

Count me in too.

[Tubadork]

The reason why you need a big name composer is that I have had the conversation with MANY conductors about playing a concertos. I have suggested tons of different pieces and the answer I always get is, "how about the Vaughan Williams?" It would be nice to do something besides the VW.

Conductors are likely to do composers that they know or they have discovered. Most conductors don't even know Raum, who is now a giant in our field and the thing is large numbers of the tuba community do not know the giants in the classical community (ie. Golijov, Gandolfi, Turnage, Danielpour etc...).

I am all about supporting new composers, even the ones that nobody knows and discovering great music. I think we need to do this, we have to support new voices, but at the same time, we NEED to get at least a few big name composers before they die. See Berio, Lutoslawski, Berg, Stravinsky, Copland, Messiaen, etc... The John Williams was written over 20 years ago, lets not lose any more of the great masters without getting a piece from them.

Once again, count me in for the York piece. (Just so you know where I stand with that).

Bill

[BVD Press]

Some may not know about Ken's music. His site can be found here:

http://kfsbrasschamber.homestead.com/

Also a ton of sound samples:

http://www.acidplanet.com/artist.asp?so ... 055&T=2197

Some good stuff!

[BVD Press]

I have some wonderful news on the commission front.

An anonymous donor has come forward and donated a 1/3 of what is needed to commission Barbara to write 3 new works. Because of this unexpected amount, I have asked Barbara if she would compose a Euphonium Sonata as well. She has agreed to do this is a very reduced rate!

I will have more info later this week, but here is what Barbara has agreed to write:

Tuba and Piano Sonata
Euphonium and Piano Sonata
Horn/Euphonium, Tuba and Piano Suite
Horn and Piano Sonata

The pricing will stay at $35.00 for any of the two pieces above. I just need to figure pricing if anyone would like 3 or 4 of the new pieces.

More info soon!

[Kevin Hendrick]

That is good news -- 'preciate the update! I would be interested in the 3- and 4-piece prices.

[BVD Press]

Dear All,

The Barbara York Commission/Consortium project is now up on the Cimarron Music Press website:

http://www.cimarronmusic.com/BarbaraYork/

All of the details can be found on the site, but here is the boiled down version:

Barbara has agreed to compose four new pieces for brass and piano:

1. Sonata for Tuba with Piano
2. Sonata for Euphonium with Piano
3. Sonata for Horn with Piano
4. Suite for Horn or Euphonium and Tuba with Piano

The cost for this project is $3000.00. Here is the breakdown of the costs:

* $1000.00 from the consortium of individuals
* $1000.00 from an anonymous donor
* $500.00 from BVD Press
* $500.00 + engraving and printing from Cimarron Music Press

Because of the anonymous donor (a huge thanks for this!!!), we have been able to keep the prices very low for the consortium:

pieces 1 and 4 $30.00
pieces 2 and 4 $30.00
pieces 3 and 4 $30.00
pieces 1, 2 and 4 $35.00
pieces 1, 2, 3 and 4 $40.00

Once these pieces make it into the Cimarron Music Press catalog, they will be selling between $17.00-$20.00 each which makes the consortium a great deal! Especially if one decides to get all four pieces.

We would urge anyone interested to get in early. Once we reach the $1000.00 mark, the consortium will be closed.

The basic idea is to get new music for the brass instrument family.
If all goes well with this consortium, we will working with more composers in the future.

The original thread for this topic can be viewed here:

viewtopic.php?t=21478&highlight=barbara+york

Please note that if you order any other pieces from the Cimarron Music Press site, we will send those out without delay.

We are also open to any feedback, ideas, etc. Please do not hesitate to send suggestions for future composers.

We very much look forward to the new pieces from Barbara and possibly other composers in the future.

Wishing all well,

[Alex C]

... At least tubists have a piece by Hindemith!

The Hindemith Tuba Sonata is the weakest of the Sonate Series (weak is a kind word here). However much the name Hindemith carries in musical weight, I don't think that the piece stands out in any genre.

Why can't we get John Corigliano, David Del Tredici, Gunther Schuller, Karel Husa, Joseph Schwantner, Leslie Bassett, Peter Maxwell-Davies, et al to write euphonium or tuba solos?? Talk about raising our visibility!

Or even Eric Whitacre for that matter; I think a tuba-euphonium choir piece of his would sound gorgeous...

Good news, we can get a piece commissioned from one of these composers! Someone needs to find a wealthy arts patron, take the idea to him/her and sell them on it. It's only an obstacle... someone can overcome it.

BTW, from a casual conversation with him, a Corigliano commission will cost from $100,000 up depending on whatever he feels like charging at the moment. I'm sure all of the others are probably in the same range. It's a lot cheaper when they get excited about it and come up with the idea on their own. His "Circus Maximus" was like that.